diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index afc6358..a9d4dc2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ Directory: /examples/hello
 Modifications necessary: None
 
 This example does not use radio, it just periodically logs a counter value.
-Can be used to checked if the timer implementation on RPi works as expected.
+Can be used to checked if the timer implementation on RPi works as expected
+and if SPI communication with the radio board is possible.
 
     cd examples/hello
     make clean
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ Can be used to checked if the timer implementation on RPi works as expected.
 Possible output:
 
     000000000 HAL: Initializing ...
+    000000003 HAL: Detected SX1276 radio module.
     000000003 HAL: Set radio RST pin to 0x00
     000000003 HAL: Wait until 000000004 ms
     000000005 HAL: Set radio RST pin to 0x02
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ work with a Single Channel Gateway.
 Possible outpout:
 
     000000000 HAL: Initializing ...
+    000000000 HAL: Detected SX1276 radio module.
     000000001 HAL: Set radio RST pin to 0x00
     000000002 HAL: Wait until 000000002 ms
     000000003 HAL: Set radio RST pin to 0x02
@@ -152,6 +155,7 @@ every 60 seconds as an unconfirmed message with a payload of 2 bytes.
 Possible output:
 
     000000000 HAL: Initializing ...
+    000000004 HAL: Detected SX1276 radio module.
     000000004 HAL: Set radio RST pin to 0x00
     000000005 HAL: Wait until 000000006 ms
     000000006 HAL: Set radio RST pin to 0x02
diff --git a/lora_gps_hat/hal.c b/lora_gps_hat/hal.c
index ff800b4..688ed21 100644
--- a/lora_gps_hat/hal.c
+++ b/lora_gps_hat/hal.c
@@ -98,6 +98,34 @@ void hal_init () {
       hal_failed();
    }
 
+   // Make sure that SPI communication with the radio module works
+   // by reading the "version" register 0x42 of the radio module.
+   hal_pin_nss(0);
+   hal_spi(0x42 & 0x7F);
+   u1_t val = hal_spi(0x00);
+   hal_pin_nss(1);
+
+   if (0 == val) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "HAL: There is an issue with the SPI communication to the radio module.\n");
+      fprintf(stderr, "HAL: Make sure that \n");
+      fprintf(stderr, "HAL: * The radio module is attached to your Raspberry Pi\n");
+      fprintf(stderr, "HAL: * The power supply provides enough power\n");
+      fprintf(stderr, "HAL: * SPI is enabled on your Raspberry Pi. Use the tool \"raspi-config\" to enable it.\n");
+      hal_failed();
+   }
+
+#ifdef DEBUG_HAL
+   if (0x12 == val) {
+      fprintf(stdout, "%09d HAL: Detected SX1276 radio module.\n", osticks2ms(hal_ticks()));
+   } 
+   else if (0x22 == val) {
+      fprintf(stdout, "%09d HAL: Detected SX1272 radio module.\n", osticks2ms(hal_ticks()));
+   } 
+   else {
+      fprintf(stdout, "%09d HAL: Detected unknown radio module: 0x%02x\n", osticks2ms(hal_ticks()), val);
+   }
+#endif
+      
 }
 
 void hal_failed () {